Packing machines

ABSTRACT

A machine for packing gramophone records in sleeves is arranged to feed two series of blanks, fold edge portions of the blanks of one series, deposit a record upon each of the latter blanks, and then unite the blanks of the two series in pairs to produce complete sleeves each enclosing a record. As described, the machine also includes means for presenting the records to inspection devices, for inserting each record in a bag before its deposit on a blank, and for check-weighing the completed sleeves.

United States Patent Bossons et al.

[ 51 Apr. 25, 1972 PACKING MACHINES lnventors: Walter H. Bossons; DavidGeorge Parker, both of Bristol; George D. Burcher, High Wycombe, all ofEngland Assignee: Masson Scott Thrissell Engineering Ltd.,

London, England Filedi May 11, 1970 Appl. No: 36.261

Foreign Application Priority Data May 10, 1969 Great Britain ..23,891/69US. Cl. ..53/59 W, 53/54, 53/78, 53/174, 53/185, 198/39, 221/211 Int.Cl. ..B65b 57/10, B65b 5/04 Field ofSearch ..53/54,59 R, 59 W,78, 174,53/185, 203

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,987,185 1/1935 Dixon..53/185 3,359,704 12/1967 Phillipson et a1. ..53/59 PrimaryExaminerTravis S. McGehee v Attorney-Craig, Antonelli & Hill [57]ABSTRACT A machine for packing gramophone records in sleeves is arrangedto feed two series of blanks, fold edge portions of me blanks of oneseries, deposit a record upon each of the latter blanks, and then unitethe blanks of the two series in pairs to produce complete sleeves eachenclosing a record. As described, the machine also includes means forpresenting the records to inspection devices, for inserting each recordin a bag before its deposit on a blank, and for checkweighing thecompleted sleeves.

17 Claims, 42 Drawing Figures PATENTEB APR 2 5 I972 SHEET UlUF 23INVENTORS WALTER HOWARD [50550 DAVID GEORGE MRKER ATTORNEYS PATENTED R25 I972 3. 657, 8 58 saw near 23 PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 SHEET OBUF 23PATENTEDAPR 2 5 m2 SHEET CH4 [1F 23 QNNN mwm PATENTED APR 2 5 I972 SHEET05 0F 23 PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 3. 657. 858

sum 07 or 23 PATENTEDA'PR 25 1972 3. 657, 858

sum 08 or 23 PATENTEDAPRZS I972 3,657, 858

SHEET 100F213 PATENTED APR 2 5 I972 SHEET 110F213 ffT-l 254 265 250 252/5/ PATENTEDAPR 2 5 m2 SHEET IBM 23 PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 SHEET 13UF 23PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 13, 657. 858

sum 15 nr 23 PATENTED APR 2 5 I972 SHEET IBM 23 PATENTEI] APR 2 5 {972SHEET 170! 23 PATENTED APR 2 5 I972 SHEET ISUF 23

1. A packing machine for records or like articles, comprising first feedmeans for feeding a first series of sleeve blanks one at a time throughan insertion zone to a uniting device, record feed means for depositingrecords one at a time in said insertion zone, said record feed meansbeing arranged to operate in synchronism with said first feed means sothat each record is deposited in said insertion zone at a time when ablank of said first series is in said insertion zone so as to bereceived upon said blank, and means for delivering sleeve blanks of asecond series one at a time to said uniting device in synchronism withthe arrival of the blanks of the first series thereat, said unitingdevice being arranged to secure each blank of the second series to thesimultaneously-arrived blank of the first series so as to form acomplete sleeve enclosing the record previously deposited on the blankof the first series.
 2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, in which thefirst feed means comprises an intermittently-moving conveyor arranged sothat each blank of the first series is stationary in the insertion zonewhile the record is deposited on said blank.
 3. A machine as claimed inclaim 2, in which the first feed means also comprises acontinuously-running conveyor arranged to carry the blanks of the firstseries from the insertion zone to a uniting device.
 4. A machine asclaimed in claim 3 in which said continuously-running conveyor has aseries of pockets each adapted to receive a blank of the first serieswith a record upon said blank.
 5. A machine as claimed in claim 1,including record bagging means for inserting each record into a bagbefore deposit of the record upon a blank.
 6. A machine as claimed inclaim 5 in which the record bagging means comprises a bag feed arrangedto take bags singly from a hopper and convey each bag in succession to aposition adjacent to the insertion zone, and a bag opening device atsaid position, said device being adapted to open the mouth of the bagwhile a record is fed therein.
 7. A machine as clAimed in claim 5,including means for maintaining a stack of bagged records adjacent tothe insertion zone to constitute a buffer store.
 8. A machine as claimedin claim 1, in which the uniting device comprises means for applyingadhesive to the blanks of one of said series, and means for pressingeach blank against the simultaneously-arrived blank of the other series.9. A machine as claimed in claim 8, in which means are provided forfolding edge portions of blanks of the first series and theadhesive-applying means is arranged to operate upon blanks of the secondseries.
 10. A machine as claimed in claim 8, in which theadhesive-applying means is similar to an off-set printing device and isarranged to apply a pattern of adhesive to blanks of the one series,said pattern corresponding to the form of folded edge portions of eachblank of the other series.
 11. A machine as claimed in claim 1,including a weighing device arranged to receive sleeves in succession asthey are produced by operation of the uniting device.
 12. A machine asclaimed in claim 1, including a conveyor arranged to carry blanks insuccession past folding means arranged to operate on those edges of eachblank which are side edges in relation to the motion of the blanks andanother conveyor arranged to receive the blanks after they have passedsaid folding means and carry said blanks in succession in a direction atright-angles to said one direction past further folding means arrangedto operate on the remaining edges of each blank.
 13. A machine asclaimed in claim 1 including means for removing records in successionfrom a stack and feed said records towards the insertion zone.
 14. Amachine as claimed in claim 13, in which the record feeding meansincludes suction devices operable repeatedly to remove the uppermostrecord from said stack, guide means to receive records from said suctiondevices, said guide means being engageable with the edge of each recordat two diametrically opposed positions, and means for causing eachrecord to slide along said guide means.
 15. A machine as claimed inclaim 14, including a metal detecting device mounted adjacent to thepath of records sliding along said guide means and rejector means forseparating said guide means at a position adjacent to said metaldetecting device, said rejector means being under control of said metaldetecting device so that whenever said device detects a metal disctravelling between successive records said guide means are separated toallow said metal disc to drop out of the record path.
 16. A machine asclaimed in claim 13, in which said record removing means is arranged todeliver records to means for presenting said records in succession toinspection devices.
 17. A machine as claimed in claim 16, includingmeans to maintain a stack of records between said record removing meansand said record presenting means to constitute a buffer store.